The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-09

IT the undertaking; still, as / bad pu
aside my pre- ldice against The in,er
ference OF women In matters uf a pub
lie nsture, determined to make IN,
appeal to Mr.. Dana. He receive Il mi
very grsciously, listened to my stor!
with apparent interest, and at its con
clusion assured ne of the i'm
possibility OF getting through
the lines either at Culpepper or Alex
andria. Upon my informing him thai
l knew Of persons going aud coming
by way OF Alexsndria-a fact wei
known to others as to myself-he re
ferred me from positive informal OF
to Gen. Auger, then commanding the
District OF Columbia, in the re iel tba,
this would practically dispose Of q
matter which he was unwilling Ia
consider favorably. Gen. Auger could
only express his surprise that should
have been sent to him upon 80 need
less an errsnd. Thereupon l retraced
my steps to the War DspartmsDt, only
to be Informed that Mr.. Dana "was
not in" FIJI ding me resolute aud
patient to wait for his coming, how
ever, he returned, propopirg to die.
miss the Gaze at opce, ] wee equally
determined to pursne It, and 10 make
short work OF this last interview. /
! SAID:
"Nr. Daus, hAvo returned to ask
whether it is your purpose to grant
me this favor. ! ask you but tO Say
yes or no. and promise not 10 give
you further trouble"
He was going to renew his previous
| arguments when | interrupted him
and begged that he would give me an
answer, yes or 10. My persistence
doubtlIss exaeperated him, for, tura-
ing to ms and at the same time bring
ina his hand down upon the table in
most empha, ic manner, he said:
madam, if all the men were as de-
termined as you are, this wa would be
ended in thirty days"
The permit was given. Ny friend
passed the guard unquestloned aud
reached her home without further de-
lay.
Mrs. Hancock handles the Mre. Sur
ratt mat: t:er in vigorous style;
The attempt to make Gen. Hancock
in any way responsible for the trial
and executionof Mrf. Surratt iE as un-
fair charge as any man ha, ever
been called upon TO meet, and he
never cared to discuss II, 30 obvious to
all intelligent and fair minded people
did he consider Ito injustice. The
troops, 100000 men, were under his
entire coutrol, including those that
guarded the prisoners. All orders
came 10 him from the Secretary Cf
War and through him TO Gen. Hart
rant, who was the governor OF the
military prison, and who had immedi-
ae charge Of the prisoners and gave
the verbal order for the execution.
Gen. Hancock never understood why
he should be- held responsible for that
unhappy execution, as cruel a spec
tacle as ever stained the escutcheon
OF nation. President Johnson was
wholly responsible for it. Not once.
but may times, did my husband
urge upon the President unansweiabe
reasons for granting a pardon. He
would reply that he could not. that
the execution was demanded by
many prominent men OF his
party, and portion OF bis Cabinet
were as uncompromisipg as the
otf er. The question has many
times been Aeked and remained I'M
answered: Why did Gsn. Hancock
consider it necessary to be present at
the execution2 For the Important
reason that Mrs. Surratt had gone 10
the President at the last moment by
his advice to plead for a pardon for
her mother, and II was hoped up to
the last moment that a reprlevs would
come. This fact necessitsted his pres.
ence at the arscnsl to rec cAive it from
his couriers, stationed at intervals
along the route from the White House
TO the areensl, in order that If the
President relented and granted a re.
ptieve not moment would be lost in
reaching him. To hold Gen. Hancock
responsible for the death Of Mrs.. Sur.
rstt was absurd. His connection with
the affair was purely military and off.
cial, and such personal interference as
1t was proper for him to undertake
was all in the direction Of reprieve,
To the court that tried Mrs Snrratt
belongs this odium, and the President,
Secretary OF War and Judge Advocate
General may all Re criticised f)r the
part they took In carrying out the de-
cree OF the commission
The exciting times OF the campaign
OF 1880, when HancoCkDwas the DJm-
ocratic candidate for President, are
told of. There is al account OF the
Yorktown celebration and the Grant
funeral, Of the cad death OF Russell
Hancock, and finally, OF the
generals death. In dwelling upon
her husbands character Mrs. Han
cock writes:
1t seems sometimes that the nobleet |
natures have to meet and overcome
the greatest and most frequent trials,
permitted perhaps by the Supreme
Power that the spirit go heYcely tried
by the storm may be worthy when
transplsnted to that wondrous world
beyond where alone 1t shall be per-
fectsd. We feel keenly many times
that which affects those we love more
than we do that which affects our
selves, and watching my husband
with the az nxiety Of a wife, / feel
gladdened by seeing that the
and detractions
which wounded his sensitive
nature served at the came
time to strengthen the high and stead.
fast purposes which he believed to be
sacredly intrusted TO him.
Never was favoritism shown him. OF
this fact he was we'll aware and wou d
say often: ~ cannot afford TO make
and must strive 10 commit
none" Gen. Hancock was a stric,
untiring in his work,
and demandeI OF his s'aG officers or
privatee, without distinction, tue came
devotion, always rec ognizinO their
services by showing in cordial way
bis appreciation Of their efforts, and
rewardng them acc 1rdingly. He wgs
not without his faults, nor was he in.
eapsb q Of enmities. On the contrary,
With bis peculiar temparament and a
IrankRess thoroughly characteristic,
hiJ intentions and motives were msnv
lines misunderstood. When at fault
bimself he quickly ma1e smends. To
Al a-.a. hn T..